Every year, thousands of language students start university by being applauded for their choice of study – languages are an invaluable skill. Language students earn more than law and medicine students. They are promised excitement and riches in their graduate lives, rubbing shoulders with ambassadors and interpreting at UN conferences.
Tech has improved language learning in numerous ways. Instead of reverting to dusty old grammar tables, they can pick up their phone and practice French for ten minutes on Duolingo on their morning commute. If they have a little time to burn on their lunch break, they can watch a foreign language show on Netflix – a huge improvement from fighting for a decent film in the university library.
Even if you are not learning languages, you have probably already used artificial intelligence (AI) translation, whether or not you have been aware of it. It may be through your Facebook feed or Google automatically translating pages whilst browsing. Unfortunately for the language student, these advancements could make the role of the translator redundant.
AI has seeped into so many aspects of our lives in recent years and languages are not exempt from these advancements. Largely, due to the advancement from machine learning – where computers can tell themselves what to do or ‘self-learn,’ – tech is expected to translate more effectively, accurately and quickly than the most accomplished linguists.
This has meant that many tech giants have begun developing AI supported translator programmes. Microsoft has recently developed its own Translator app, which translates text, speech, images, and street signs. The big sell is that the App can run offline, which has ideal real-world advantages for those traveling in areas with limited access to the internet, no longer needing an interpreter to travel with them.
A human touch
AI translation is still coming up a little short. Learning languages teach us about culture, nuances and how people say more than the words that come out their mouths. For this reason, despite rising popularity, AI translation is not yet as trusted as experienced human translators.
When Google first showed off its Google Pixel Buds product with real-time translation functionality, it seemed like the device could be a powerful tool for everyone between travellers to workers on business trips. It seemed that we were quickly moving towards a world where you can instantly understand anything said to you in any language – much like the Tardis interprets languages in Doctor Who.
However, reviews were awful. “You won’t be able to have an intelligent conversation using the tool, but it’s functional enough to ask for directions to a museum or order a currywurst in Berlin…The functionality is too awkward and imperfect to be of much use in its current state,” writes Andrew Sheivachman. In reality, it probably is not worth spending money on a device to find your way to a museum, when you can clumsily order your own Currywurst.
Robot translators
It’s worth bearing in mind that not all language students set out with the ultimate goal of becoming a translator or interpreter, just as not all history students want to become historians nor do philosophy students want to become philosophers. Students learn more than just a language, but how to argue a point, modern history, and international politics.
There is also the argument that a degree has more value in the pleasure it gives a student, rather than what financial stability it may bring – it is a labour of love. Those who learn languages often argue that the true value is in joking with someone who they would not otherwise be able to, traveling in a country completely at ease or just the simple satisfaction of being able to converse. But that does not mean that this does not still present a problem for language studies.
People often assume that the first jobs that will be lost to AI and automation will be the unskilled ones, such as factory workers, taxi and lorry drivers. However, by shrinking the number of jobs available to language students, the job prospects for language students become worse and inevitably it becomes a less valuable degree.
Currently, AI translation can only really work with assistance from human translators, who can not only correct but help teach them in a way that machines cannot teach themselves, AI translation could find itself on the right track. For now, the technology is arguably not yet fit for purpose on its own.
Undoubtedly, AI translation will become better in time. Until AI can be as accurate as a human translator, then language students will fill the jobs that AI can’t. But there is no guarantee that a student an eighteen-year-old about to start a degree in languages will enjoy the same success in four years than the one who graduates today.
onsundays.tech.blog 